Means for closing metal drums



Sept. 30, 1941. G. BROUHON MEANS FOR CLOSING METAL: DRUMS ol iginal Filed Marph '7, 1936 v am W Patented Sept. 30, 1941 MEANS FOR CLOSING METAL DRUMS Georges Brouhcn, Brussels, Belgium, assignor to Solvay & Cie., Brussels, Belgium, arcompany of Belgium Original application March 7, 1936, Serial No. 67,698. Divided and this application April 18, 1939, Serial No. 268,472. In Belgium January 1 5 rotatable in bearings 6 under screwed cover 6 Claims.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 67,698, filed March 7, 1936, now Patent No. 2,158,218, dated May 16, 1939.

This invention relates to means for closing drums of the open head type, having a removable head or lid adapted to be secured thereto by a closure band fitted around the edges of the drum and of the head.

It is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus or tool for gripping the ends of the closure band together with the ends of a surrounding member adapted to apply the band tightly against the edges of the drum and head.

A particular object of my invention is to providea convenient and efiicient tool. for carrying out the methodof closing drums set forth in my Patent No. 2,158,218 dated May 16, 1939, wherein a channel closure band is clamped into position by means of a roller chain which engages it on both sides of its largest diameter and draws its ends together.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tool whereby a pull can be exerted on the chain in a direction tangential to the periphery of a drum, whatever be its diameter,

plates 1. To move the arms I towards or away from each other, the screw 4 is rotated by a pawl and ratchet device comprising a ratchet wheel 8 keyed centrally of the screw and pawls actuated by means of hand levers 9. To the outer end of each arm I is pivoted a stirrup-shaped jaw holder l6 carrying a jaw l4 secured thereto by means of a cross-bolt I1 (Fig. 3).

When it is desired to clamp a band ll around the edges of a drum and of its head I2, I surround the band I l with a roller chain l0 engaged at each end by one of the bolts [1. If desired said chain may be provided at intervals With wire hooks 22 whereby it is supported from the drum head. Each jaw M has the shape of a short With these objects in View, my improved tool mounted in spherical hearings in said shanks.

A pin and slot connection between said crosspiece and one of the shanks provides, in conjunctic-n with the ball connection between turnbuckle and shanks, the possibility of adapting the tool to drums of difierent diameters, while obtaining a substantiallytangential movement of the ends of said shanks.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the clamping tool placed on the head of a drum to be closed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View showing a shank of the clamping tool.

Fig. 3 is a side View of said shank, partly in longitudinal section,

Fig. 4 shows, also on an enlarged scale, a jaw of the clamping tool.

As shown in Fig. 1 the clamping tool comprises two arms or shanks 1 having each one end pivoted to a pin 2 at one end of a cross-piece 3, said shanks being connected with each other near their free ends by means of a screw 4. The screw i has opposite threads engaged by spherical nuts l i to the jaw across the piece l6 for attachment channel piece curved according to the curvature of the band and internally provided with small teeth I 5 (Figs. 3 and 4) for engaging directly upon the exterior surface of the band. These curved jaws are adapted to distribute the pulling stress on a large surface of the band so as to avoid deforming same, and they grip and pull the ends of the band while it is clamped by the chain.

When the arms 1 are moved towards each other about their respective pivots 2, they exert on the chain Ill a pull in a direction which is substantially tangential to the periphery of the drum, and remains tangential as the movement progresses, owing to the fact that one of the arms has a slot A3 in which its pivot 2 is loosely engaged. Thus the necessary radial component which tends. to pull the end of the chain against the band, is never suificient to stop the end of the band moving along the periphery of the flange during the clamping, and no deformation can take place.

The jaws I l being held eachby a stirrup piece l6 secured to the end of one of the arms I, the cross bolt IT on each jaw extends at right angles of the corresponding end of the chain It (Fig. 3). By passing said bolt through a link of the chain, the length of chain to be used can be fitted to the diameter of the drum, the surplus length hanging down. Secured tothe stirrup piece is a pin 18 fitted in a bore in the arm I, which pin acts both as a pivot for the jaw to enable it to fit properly against the band, and as a connecting piece with the arm I.

One of the jaw holders I6 is adapted to be readily detached from the clamping device, To that end the arm I to which it is secured has a notched end, the pin I8 of the fitting being encaged in the notch l9 (Fig. 3) which is formed at the top with a circular recess 20 in which fits a head 2! of oblong shape (Fig. l) secured to the end of pin [8. When the head 2! is turned through 90, from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, it holds the jaw fitting firmly in the notch, whereas if it is turned back axially of the notch, it releases the holder and allows of easily disconnecting the chain from the clamping device.

In operation, in order to clamp a band ll around the superimposed edges of the drum and its head, I closely fit the band around said edges and surround it with the roller chain Ill. The clamping tool being placed onto the head as shown in Fig. 1, I engage the ends of the band in the channel-shaped jaws M; at the same time I secure the chain In to the jaws M by means of bolts l1, whereupon the arms I are moved towards each other. The ends of the band being pressed between the edge of the drum and the inner surface of the jaws M, are gripped by the teeth IE on said jaws and they are drawn together until the desired .tension is attained. Simultaneously the ends of the chain are drawn together by the bolts l1, whereby the chain is caused to exert a uniform clamping action around the whole periphery of the band. The ends of the hand then may be secured together in any convenient way, preferably by mans of a covering strip. Then the pull on the arms I is released and the tool is removed with the chain fromabout the band.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In means for clamping a channel band on the "flange of a drum head to secure said head on a drum body, the combination of a roller chain adapted to surround said band over a substantial portion of its length, and means for simultaneously drawing together the ends of said chain tightening said roller chain and said band, said means comprising a cross-piece and a pair of arms'each having one end pivotally mounted individually at one end of said cross-piece one of said arms being also movable transversely of said crosspiece, said cross-piece and said arms being adapted to rest on said head, means on the free ends of said arms for engaging the ends of said chain, means supported on said free ends of the arms for engaging upon portions of the ends of said band, and means for moving said arms towards and away from each other.

: 3..In,means for clamping a channel band on a drum body, the combination of a roller chain adapted t surround said band over a substantial portion of its length and grip the same with a partially enveloping hold, hook means on said chain adapted to support the same on said head, means for simultaneously tightening said chain and said bands, said means comprising a link member, a pair of pivoted arms on said link member, and jaws on said arms adapted to engage separately the ends of said chain and upon portions of the ends of said band, and means for drawing together said arms with said jaws.

4. In means for clamping a channel band on the flange of a drum head to secure said head on a drum body, the combination of a roller chain adapted to surround said band, a link member adapted to rest on said head, a pair of pivots on said link member, a' pair of arms having spherical recesses and each connected to one of said pivots, a pair of jaws each connected to one of said arms and adapted to grip upon portions of the ends of said band, means carried on said arms adjacent to said jaws for engaging the ends of said chain, and screw means comprising rounded nuts engaging in said recesses for moving said arms with said jaws towards each other.

5. In means for closing drums of the open head type, the combination of a member having spaced pivots and adapted to rest on the head of the drum, a pair of arms having spherical recesses and connected one to each of said pivots, one of said arms having a slot engaging its respective pivot, spherical nuts engaging said recesses, a pair of spaced holders having jaws mounted on the same, said holders being pivotally carried by the ends of said arms, one of said holders being slidably fitted in a notch in the end of its carrying arm, a chain, means for locking said slidable holder in said notch, means carried on said arms in association with said jaws for engaging the ends of said chain, gripping means on said jaws for engaging upon and gripping portions of the ends of said band, and screw means engaging said nuts and capable of moving the same and with them said arms and jaws towards each other.

6. In means for clamping a channel band on the flange of a drum head to secure said head on a drum body, the combination of a roller chain adapted to surround said band over a substantial portion of its length, and means for simultaneously tightening said chain and said band, said means comprising a member having two pivot mountings, a pair of arms pivoted to the mountings on said member, a pair of jaws pivotally connected individually to said arms, one of said jaws being removably fitted in a notch inthe end of its carrying arm, means for locking said removable jaw in said notch, said means comprising a pin with a head of oblong shape, gripping teeth on said jaws for engaging the ends of said band, means on said jaws for engaging the ends of said chain, and means for moving said arms with said jaws towardseach other.

GEORGES BROUHON. 

